Gate-fastening and tightening device

ABSTRACT

A device for detachably fastening and tightening a flexible gate to a fence post, the device including a rod rotatably extending through the upper end of the fence post and having its opposite ends exposed on opposite sides of the fence post. The free ends of the flexible U-shaped element are secured to the opposite ends of the rod and will be wound thereupon upon rotation thereof. The U-shaped element is extended over the upper end of the gate post and rotation of the rod by a handle secured thereto draws the Ushaped element and the gate post towards the fence post. A pivotal locking latch is secured to the fence post and is pivotal into the rotational path of the handle to prevent turning of the same so that the ends of the U-shaped element will not unwind from the rod to maintain the gate in a closed position.

United States Patent i [72] inventor Gilbert 8. Chantland we. ma- 9" 52m 1211 Appl. No. 861,012 [22] Filed Sept. 25, 1969 (45] Patented June 22, 1971 [54] GATE-FASTENING AND TIGHTENING DEVICE 2 Claims, 3 Drawing Figs,

52 11.5. C1. 160/328 [51] Int." EOSc 5/00 [50] Masques 160/328; 256/39, 40, 41, 42, 43; 292/246, 247

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 326,922 9/ 1885 Scherer 256/42 UX 397,814 2/ 1889 Nicolai et al.... 256/40 UX 470,674 3/1892 Hoffmeister.... 256/42 UX 473,899 5/1892 Berdan 256/42 529,709 11/1894 Conner 256/43 Primary Examiner-Dennis L. Taylor Attorney-Zarley, McKee & Thomte ABSTRACT: A device for detachably fastening and tightening a flexible gate to a fence post, the device including a rod rotatably extending through the upper end of the fence post and having its opposite ends exposed on opposite sides of the fence post. The free ends of the flexible U-shaped element are secured to the opposite ends of the rod and will be wound thereupon upon rotation thereof. The U-shaped element is extended over the upper end of the gate post and rotation of the nod by a handle secured thereto draws the U-shaped element and the gate post towards the fence post. A pivotal locking latch is secured to the fence post and is pivotal into the rotational path of the handle to prevent turning of the same so that the ends of the U-shaped element will not unwind from the rod to maintain the gate in a closed position.

GATE-FASTENING AND TIGI-ITENING DEVICE This invention pertains to an improvement for fastening and tightening a flexible gate to a fence post. The existing devices are either difficult to operate or unsatisfactory in operation. The existing devices are also somewhat difficult to manufacture and to install.

Therefore, it is a principal object of this invention to provide an improved device for fastening and tightening a flexible gate to a fence post.

A further object of this invention is to provide a device of the class described having means thereon to maintain the gate in a locked or closed position.

A further object of this invention is to provide a device for detachably fastening and tightening a flexible gate to a fence post wherein a large amount of force is applied to the gate post with a minimum amount of effort required of the person operating the device.

A further object of this invention is to provide a device of the class described which is durable in use.

A further object of this invention is to provide a device of the class described which prevents inadvertent opening of the gate.

A further object of this invention is to provide a device of the class described which is economical of manufacture, easy to operate and refined in appearance.

These and other objects will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

This invention consists in the construction, arrangements, and combination of the various parts of the device, whereby the objects contemplated are attained as hereinafter more fully set forth, specifically pointed out in the claims, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the device mounted on a fence post;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the device seen in FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 is a sectional view as seen along lines 3-3 of FIG. 2.

The numeral generally refers to a conventional fence post which would be anchored in the ground and which has a plurality of flexible wire elements 12 extending laterally therefrom. The numeral 14 refers generally to a gate post hav ing a plurality of flexible wire elements 16 secured thereto and extending therefrom. It should be noted that the fence post 10 and gate post 14 are of conventional construction and that they would be used in conventional fence environment.

The device of this invention is generally referred to by the reference numeral 18 and includes a horizontal rod 20 which rotatably extends through the wooden post 10 and having opposite ends 22 and 24. A handle member 26 is secured to end 24 by any convenient means such as welding or the like and is transverse to the longitudinal axis of rod 20. A flexible U- shaped element 28 having a bright portion 30 and leg portions 32 and 34 extending therefrom is secured to rod 20 by means of the free ends of the legs 32 and 34 being secured to ends 22 and 24 of rod 20 as seen in FIG. 3. Preferably, element 28 is constructed of a suitable wire or chain but it could be constructed of any other suitable flexible material having the required strength such as a cable or the like. The numeral 36 refers to a locking latch which is secured to post 10 beneath rod 20 by means of screws 38 extending through a base portion 40. An arcuate strap 42 is hingedly secured to base portion 40 and has a finger element 44 secured to the free end thereof which extends laterally of one end thereof as seen in FIG. I. Normally, the weight of stray 42 causes the same to hang downwardly in the position seen in FIG. 1 and is in the rotational path of handle 18 when pivoted from the position of FIG. I to the position of FIGS. 2 and 3.

The gate is closed by causing the lower end of gate post 14 to be received by the conventional loop assembly which normally extends from the lower end of the fence post 10. The handle element 18 would have been previously rotated in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 2 so that a maximum amount of the flexible element 28 extended from the post It), or in other words, to provide the largest loop possible.

Element 28 is extended over the upper end of the gate post 14 and the handle element 18 is then rotated in a clockwise direction as viewed in FIGS. 1 and 2 to cause the legs 32 and 34 to wind upon the opposite'ends of the rod 20 which draws the bight portion 30 and the post 14 towards the post 10 thereby increasing the tension in the wire element 16. I-Iandle element 18 is continued to be rotated until the gate has been drawn to a tight condition and until the lower end of the handle element 18 is to the left of strap 42 as viewed in FIG. 2. Strap 42 is then pivotally moved upwardly so as to be in the rotational path of handle 18. Handle I8 is then slowly released and the tension in wire element 16 will cause the handle 18 to rotate slightly in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 2. Handle 18 is permitted to rotate in the counterclockwise direction until the lower end thereof engages the strap 42. Strap 42 and finger element 44 maintain the handle 18 in the position seen in FIG. 2 so that the gate will be maintained in a tight and closed position. When it is desired to open the gate, handle 18 is again rotated in a clockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 2 until the lower end thereof is positioned to the left of the finger element 44 at which time the weight of the strap 42 will cause it to pivot downwardly from the position of FIG. 2 to the position of FIG. 1 and to be out of the rotational path of handle I8. When the strap 42 has pivoted to the position of FIG. I, handle I8 is permitted to rotate in a counterclockwise direction to permit the ends or legs of the flexible element 28 to unwind from the rod 20 which will cause the bight portion 30 to move away from post 10 and to permit the wire element 16 to become slack. Element 28 is then removed from the upper portion of the post 14 to permit the gate to be opened.

It can be seen that an extremely simple but efficient means has been provided for tightening and fastening a gate to a fence post. The handle 18 by being connected to the rod 20 permits a person to exert a great amount of force on the post 14 to draw the same towards post 10 with a minimum amount of effort being expended. The interaction of the element 36 with the handle 18 positively prevents the handle 18 from rotating in a counterclockwise direction when in the position of FIG. 2 to prevent inadvertent opening of the gate. The face that the opposite ends of the flexible element 28 are secured and wound upon the opposite ends of the rod 20 provides a uniform force on the post 14 which draws the same towards the post 10. The device is easily installed in the post 10 by simply drilling a hole through the upper end of the post 10 and inserting the rod 20 therethrough. The flexible element 28 may then be secured to the rod 28. It can also be appreciated that the element 28 may be easily replaced with a minimum of effort.

The fact that strap 42 is arcuate so as to extend downwardly and outwardly from base portion 40 permits the operator to easily grasp the same to pivot it outwardly towards the handle 18. The fact that rod 20 and handle 18 define a T-shape permits the operator to place his hands on the opposite ends of the handle 18 to exert pressure thereon with both of his hands.

Thus it can be seen that the device accomplishes at least all of its stated objectives.

Iclaim:

1. In combination:

a vertically disposed fence post having a bore adjacent its upper end and extending therethrough in a direction transverse to its longitudinal axis;

gate means having a vertically disposed gate post secured thereto;

a horizontally disposed rod extending rotatably and slidably through said bore in said fence post, the opposite ends of said rod protruding from the opposite ends of said bore;

a flexible U-shaped element having a bight portion with leg portions extending therefrom, said U-shaped element having one leg portion secured to one end of said rod and its other leg secured to the opposite end of said rod, said U-shaped element extending around the upper end of said gate post;

an elongated handle rigidly secured intermediate its ends to one end of said rod so as to form a rigid T-shaped configuration therewith, the opposite ends of said handle being free for grasping to rotate said rod, thereby drawing said bight portion and said gate post towards said fence posts;

means detachably connecting the lower ends of said fence and gate posts;

locking means on said post including a strap having a finger on one of its ends, the other end of said strap being hinged to said post, so as to permit swinging movement of said strap from a first position wherein said finger is free from 

1. In combination: a vertically disposed fence post having a bore adjacent its upper end and extending therethrough in a direction transverse to its longitudinal axis; gate means having a vertically disposed gate post secured thereto; a horizontally disposed rod extending rotatably and slidably through said bore in said fence post, the opposite ends of said rod protruding from the opposite ends of said bore; a flexible U-shaped element having a bight portion with leg portions extending therefrom, said U-shaped element having one leg portion secured to one end of said rod and its other leg secured to the opposite end of said rod, said U-shaped element extending around the upper end of said gate post; an elongated handle rigidly secured intermediate its ends to one end of said rod so as to form a rigid T-shaped configuration therewith, the opposite ends of said handle being free for grasping to rotate said rod, thereby drawing said bight portion and said gate post towards said fence posts; means detachably connecting the lower ends of said fence and gate posts; locking means on said post including a strap having a finger on one of its ends, the other end of said strap being hinged to said post, so as to permit swinging movement of said strap from a first position wherein said finger is free from engagement with said handle to a second position whereby said finger retentively engages said handle and prevents its rotational movement in at least one direction.
 2. The combination according to claim 1 wherein said other end of said strap is hinged to said post for swinging movement about a horizontal axis, said strap hanging downwardly when in its first position and being swung upwardly and laterally outwardly from said fence post when in its second position, said finger extending approximately in a horizontal direction in both said first and second positions. 